Mail receptacle



Patented May 19, 1925.

UNITED STATES CHARLES .A. RAS'IETTER, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

MVAIL anenrracnn.

Application filed October 31, 1924. Serial No. 746,984.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. RAsTn'rrun, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail Receptacles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in mail receptacles of that type installed in the wall of a house and which is accessible for the reception of mail matter from the exterior of the building and from which the deposited mail matter is removed from within the house.

The object of the improvement is to provide a mail receptacle of its class having. a door, which when open, forms a shelf upon which the mail matter is lodged subsequent to its reception through a chute from the exterior of the house and to pro vide means in connection with the lid ofthe chute for operating the door. Another ob ject is to provide means in connection with the apparatus exposed to the exterior of the building for the lodgment of parcel post matter and other packages too large to enter the chute, and which also has operable relation with the interior door when utilized; and a further object is to provide a connection between the interior door and the parcel post receiving member that will prevent closing of the door while parcel post matter is sustained by said member, to thus apprise the occupant of the house of the lodgment of parcel post matter.

These objects are accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the wall of a building in which a mail receptacle embodying the invention is installed; and

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the mail receiving member.

The characters appearing in the description refer to parts shown in the drawings and designated thereon by corresponding characters.

The invention comprises a receptacle formed of two box sections 1 and 2 that have telescoping relation with each other. The box section 1 is positioned in the wall 3 of a building, and has a chute 1 extending from its upper portion through the front of the wall, and the other section 2 extends through the rear of the wall and is provided with a flange 5 that covers the ad jacent portions of the rear face of the wall. The section 2 has a tilting door 6 therein sustained on pivots 7 so that the door swings upon a horizontal axis, the upper portions of the door swinging upwardly from said section while the lower portion of the door swings inwardly. A stop 8 fixed upon the front wall of the section 1 engages the inner end of the door 6 when the door reaches horizontal position and limits its movement.

The mail receiving member comprises a frame 9 positioned upon the front wall of the building so as'to cover the chute 4c of the receptacle, and has a hinged lid 10 thereon. The lid is hinged at its top to a ledge 11 on the frame, and has a pendant thumb-piece 12 at'each side thereof by which it is manipulated. The lid has also upon its inner face a lug 13 to which is attached a chain 14 that has connection at its opposite end with the lower portion of the door 6 so that when the lid 10 is raised the door will be turned upon its axis from its closed position to horizontal position.

The parcel post receiving member comprises a hook 15 mounted upon a shaft 16 that extends through the side of the frame 9 and which has fixed upon its inner end an arm 17 so that when the hook is swung downwardly to position for use, the inner end of the arm 17 will swing upwardly and actuate the chain 14 through the medium of a chain connection 18 that is attached to the former chain and said arm. The chains are so proportioned as to their lengths that the door will be tilted to its horizontal position upon operation of either the lid or the hook, and so that when the door is again closed the hook will be drawn by its chain connection to its normal position as when out of use.

The frame has mounted upon its top a clip 19 formed preferably of spring wire and which bears normally. against the front face of the wall of the building and serves the purpose of supporting outgoing mail matter to be removed by the postman.

In utilizing the invention the postman raises the lid which causes the door to open and assume horizontal position, and the mail matter is introduced through the chute and lodges upon the door where its presence may be observed by the occupant of the house. When the mail matter is removed, the door is manually closed by the occupant and the apparatus is then in readiness tor subsequent operation. Then the matter to be delivered is of such bulk that it is not receivable through the chute, the hook is manually moved to the position indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 1, and the bulky matter is suspended on the hook. Vhen the hook is thus positioned the door is opened through the medium of the chains and assumes horizontal position. The hook is sustained in extended position by the weight of the parcel lodged thereon and because of the chain connection between the arm of the hook and the door. the door is prevented from being; closed, or, if forcibly closed will immediately re-open, which will .be indicative of the presence of delivered mail on the hook.

l at I claim is 1. In apparatus of the class described, a receptacle having a receiving chute; a mail rezeiving member including a hinged lid for closing the chute; a hinged door closing the back of the receptacle; a chain connecting the lid and the door operable to open the door when the lid is open; a movable parcel receiving; hook; and connection between said hook and door operable to open the door when the hook is in position for use, and to return the hook to normal position when the hook is relieved and the door is closed.

2. A mail receptacle comprising a box having a. receiving chute at its front and a swinging; door at its back. a movable parcel receiving member external of the box at the front thereof; anda connection between said member and the door operable to open the door when the said member is used and to return said member to idle position when the door is closed.

3. In apparatus of the class described. a mail receptacle having a mail receiving chute, and a swinging door; a movable parcel receiving member adjacent the chute having operable relation with the door tor opening the door when saidmember is used.

4. In combination with a mail box having a receiving chute, a door for the removal of mail matter from the box; a hinged lid closing the chute having operable relation with the door for opening the door when the lid is opened; a movable parcel receiving member; and a connecting means between said member and the door operable door when the member is used 1y of said lid.

,5. In combination with amail receiving box having a lid controlled receiving chute and a movable exit door, a movable member tor the reception of parcels independ ently of the box; and a connecting means operable selectively by the lid on the chute and the movable member tor opening; the exit door accordingly as said lid is opened or said member is used.

In testimony whereof I aitix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. RASTETTER.

Witnesses:

LIATILDA METTLER, VALTER' G. Butane.

in dep en den tto open the 

